Rare wave-like cloud is world’s first new type to be recognised for more than 50 years

A CLOUD spotted over North Wales has been officially recognised as a formation.

The asperitas is the first new type in more than half a century.

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Mountaineer instructor Patrick Hickie photographed the spectacular cloud during a 2,460ft climb in Snowdonia.

The Cloud Appreciation Society has campaigned since 2006 for asperitas to be labelled as a separate type after other sightings around the world.

It has now been recognised by the World Meteorological Organisation and will be in 2017’s International Cloud Atlas.

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And it has been named after the Latin word for “roughness” because of a resemblance to stormy seas.